The Standoff at Sparrow Creek
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The Standoff at Sparrow Creek
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After a mass shooting at a police funeral, reclusive ex-cop Gannon finds himself unwittingly forced out of retirement when he realizes that the killer belongs to the same militia he joined after quitting the force. Understanding that the shooting could set off a chain reaction of copycat violence across the country, Gannon quarantines his fellow militiamen in the remote lumber mill they call their headquarters. There, he sets about a series of grueling interrogations, intent on ferreting out the killer and turning him over to the authorities to prevent further bloodshed.

There is a timely element to "Sparrow Creek" that speaks to our current moment and mood in this country, but the simple, effective nature of Dunham's sharp storytelling makes him a talent to watch going forward.

Even without the strength of its character-actor cast, the warehouse-set drama would attract Reservoir Dogs comparisons; though neither as twisty nor as satisfying as that film, this debut shows pulpy promise and is a step ahead of its genre peers.

Give some credit to first-time screenwriter and director Henry Dunham on his attempt to make a steadily paced thriller reminiscent of 1992's Reservoir Dogs, without falling into some of the cliché trappings most novice filmmakers might deem enticing.